IJL has announced the launch of its annual ‘Industry’s Choice’ competition, allowing the trade to choose the 2017 KickStarter that stands out from the crowd.
Now in its fifth year, the newly titled ‘Industry’s Choice’ competition rewards one KickStarter with a much sought after complementary stand in the Design Gallery at IJL 2018, with the winning designer announced at the show.
IJL Show Director, Sam Willoughby, explains the new format for voting: “This year, once again, we are extremely pleased with our KickStarters. All ten are extremely talented and very different. I look forward to seeing who comes out tops. Fingers at the ready and good luck everyone!”
This year’s KickStarter line up comprises Farrah Al-Dujaili (Oddical), Alice Barnes, Becky Dockree, Raliegh Goss, Emily Kidson, Lucy Spink (Lucy Spink Jewellery), Claire Macfarlane, Rhona McCallum, Ana Simoes (Muscari Jewellery) and Heather Woof.
Voted for by the industry and awarded at the discretion of IJL and the NAJ, voting begins at 9am on the 29th June and closes on the 29th July.
To vote:
• Social media users should mention the name of the KickStarter they would like to vote for by using the hashtag #KickStartVote.
• Alternatively, you can cast your vote for your favourite on the IJL website, here.
Let the battle begin!
What is the KickStart programme?
The annual KickStart Programme is now in its ninth year and supports the best in design, offering ten outstanding designers a place on this unique mentoring initiative. Winners benefit from exhibiting on a group stand at IJL 2017, receiving invaluable marketing and industry support from both IJL and The National Association of Jewellers.
The 2017 KickStarters are:
Farrah Al-Dujaili, Oddical
Oddical is the creation of Farrah Al-Dujaili, a graduate of the School of Jewellery in Birmingham. Oddical is an emerging British jewellery brand that adores the quirky and the individual, with the mantra ‘Wear Oddical. Be Oddical’. The debut collection has taken inspiration from plant and skeletal structures to create eye-catching statement earrings that have the appearance of being made in precious metals, without the weight. Each pair of quirky, lightweight earrings are 3D printed in nylon, plated in 22ct gold and finished with hand painted details.
Alice Barnes
Born in London, Alice has always been influenced by the strong architectural lines that surrounded her whilst growing up. She now draws complex beauty from the simplest of forms to make elegant, contemporary jewellery with meticulous attention to detail. Her work is influenced by the cuts, folds and repetition used in paper art, and draws on lines, angles and repetitive shapes for inspiration.
Becky Dockree
Becky Dockree is influenced by a passion for pattern and form. She uses traditional etching techniques to display these ideas and create eye-catching designs. Becky has a sculptural background, graduating from the Sir John Cass School of Art and Design. Inspirations from this time have been introduced into her jewellery practice, taking her past sculptural projects to a new audience. Her etched designs originate from a series of paintings, which focus on the female form.
Raliegh Goss
Raliegh started her jewellery journey silversmithing at the Sir John Cass Faculty of Art. The ASTRAEUS collection, a multi coloured diamond jewellery collection, takes its name from the Greek god of the stars. The Astraeus Ring shoots it’s glistening branches of gold and diamonds around the finger. This white gold ring is adorned with yellow and white diamonds of round and pear shapes with diamond pave that gradually turns into intense yellow to accent the flick of the stars tail.
Emily Kidson
Emily Kidson is a jeweller whose layered, intuitively designed jewels marry bold materials with traditional craftsmanship. Known for her use of laminate with silver, wood and resin, Kidson makes every piece of jewellery by hand in her London studio. Colour is central to her work and is the backdrop to a minimal, modern aesthetic with areas of intricate detail. Each piece is the culmination of an immersive creative process and her inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere, whether a quickly-captured image or the careful contemplation of a painting.
Lucy Spink Jewellery
Every piece of jewellery is handcrafted in Lucy’s workshop in Cornwall. She is fascinated by how closely our lives were once bound to the rhythms of nature and uses a small element of gold in her pieces to represent the importance of the natural environment. The techniques Lucy uses are ones that have remained unchanged for hundreds of years and she use traditional tools from her grandfather’s workshop to keep her anchored to her inspiration.
Claire Macfarlane
Originally having studied sculpture, Claire manipulates her materials beyond conventional means and this has been recognized with industry awards. Visually, she is drawn to structural forms and patterns – in architecture or wherever they may be. Design inspiration for her Spin Me Around collection came from “letting loose on a traditional lathe”; the contoured elements then fashioned into bold, modern designs with inverted patterns and striking silhouettes. The highly polished finish emphasizes the form and reflects the precise, clean nature of lathe work. The result is a collection that is strong, feminine and curvaceous for night or day.
Rhona McCallum
Rhona McCallum is a Glasgow based jewellery designer and a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art. She regularly exhibits her jewellery collections throughout the UK and abroad, including Goldsmiths’ Fair in London and, most recently, at LOOT – the annual retail exhibition of contemporary jewellery at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. Inspired by geology, ancient history and our ever changing landscapes, Rhona creates statement jewellery in silver and gold that combines rugged, natural textures with bold, sculptural forms.
Ana Simoes, Muscari Jewellery
The grand-daughter of a goldsmith, Ana Simoes followed the only career she knew would spark her passion. She trained as a jeweller and gem setter and graduated from the BA (Hons) Jewellery course at The Sir John Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design – London Metropolitan University. She designs and creates jewellery in precious metals and gemstones and her aim is to merge traditional jewellery making techniques with a modern aesthetic. Her brand, Muscari Jewellery, is characterised by thought-provoking design and attention to the finest details.
Heather Woof
Heather Woof creates subtle, refined yet distinctive jewellery in silver and gold. Inspired by pattern and structure, Heather’s designs are characterised by clean lines and sculptural forms. Each piece is handcrafted from her Edinburgh studio with a focus on detail and beautiful craftsmanship. Heather designs with the wearer in mind, creating pieces that embody everyday simplicity and understated elegance.
Find out more about KickStart and the Industry Choice, here.
Free registration for IJL is now open. Visit jewellerylondon.com/register to ensure you receive your Essential Guide to the show and badge in the post.
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